The death of vBulletin

[Alias]

The death of vBulletin . . .



Read more HERE

[TechnoHolocaust]

this forum is actually running a later version than another forum i usually frequent. which is weird, cos i always thought upgrades was compulsory?

[Alias]

Originally Posted by TechnoHolocaust

this forum is actually running a later version than another forum i usually frequent. which is weird, cos i always thought upgrades was compulsory?

Upgrades are certainly not compulsory, and many forums have found them to be more trouble than help, since major upgrades invariably mean considerable template editing for the administrator/owner. However, when a new version arrives, support/add-ons etc for previous versions dwindles, and the earlier versions are given an End of Life deadline.

The point I was highlighting is that since vBulletin began there's always been the option to purchase an owned or leased licence. An owned licence may be used in perpetuity, and the leased ran for 1 year. Upgrading "active support" (access to upgrades & patches) with an owned licence has previously depended on an annual renewal fee of (currently) $40.

vBulletin/Jelsoft have now been taken over by Internet Brands and those who have already purchased an owned license are being well and truly screwed. The new licensing structure is explained in an announcement of confusing verbosity, but the bottom line is that those who own their licences are going to have to re-purchase if they want to stay up-to-date with current versions. The leased licence has been discontinued.

The knock-on effect is that coders and developers who need a current version to work with will be the hardest hit, and many have indicated they will no longer carry on providing modifications etc. Without these third-party add-ons, vBulletin will have little to offer that can't be achieved with free open source software, and (imo) this could well be their death.

Internet Brands, in their frenzy of corporate greed, have pretty well shit on everything they've touched so far, and as you'll see in my picture, the turd is already on the tombstone for vBulletin.

The good news is that those who are happy with the version they have may continue to run it indefinitely, but now would be a good time to grab every available add-on for the 3.x series because they may not be available much longer.

[TechnoHolocaust]

i see, thanks for clearing that up

[Alias]

You're welcome, although I doubt my sparse comments here will clear up the mess Internet Brands is making. Nice to see PPM adding his point of view at vB.org though . . . the representation of a forum as big as UR (whether or not vB like the content) certainly adds fuel to the critisicm.

A further moot point has also been raised: Why are people being asked to pay in advance for products that haven't even been released yet? A neighbour of mine ordered some furniture and had to pay in advance . . . the company went bust before they delivered and he's still waiting for a refund (2 yrs now). Food for thought . . .

Then again, if they go bust it may follow that those who have the software can do what the hell they like with it, and there's some pretty hot coders out there who I'm sure would like the chance to go "independent". Time will tell.

[Peterpigman]

Originally Posted by Alias

You're welcome, although I doubt my sparse comments here will clear up the mess Internet Brands is making. Nice to see PPM adding his point of view at vB.org though . . . the representation of a forum as big as UR (whether or not vB like the content) certainly adds fuel to the critisicm.

A further moot point has also been raised: Why are people being asked to pay in advance for products that haven't even been released yet? A neighbour of mine ordered some furniture and had to pay in advance . . . the company went bust before they delivered and he's still waiting for a refund (2 yrs now). Food for thought . . .

Then again, if they go bust it may follow that those who have the software can do what the hell they like with it, and there's some pretty hot coders out there who I'm sure would like the chance to go "independent". Time will tell.

It appears either they are short of cash or they are trying to "move up" business wise. At the mo many vb customers are small forums and "hobbyists" the new pricing structure looks aimed at the business sector and unfortunately the smaller users are being cast aside. I will have to look at our current income/outgoings to see if it is feasible to upgrade but the way they are blackmailing people to upgrade within two weeks (for something that isn't even a useable product yet) or pay DOUBLE is totally insane. My main problem is I just upgraded the server based on our current $40 maintenance payment per year. Now I am told I have to pay $250 for something I already own and have to pay again every year. I hope the shitstorm happening on the forums at the mo makes them look at it again but I seriously doubt it now.

[Alias]

I think the non-profit, charitable and hobbyist owners will just stick with 3.8 or convert to open-source, and pay them nothing. I'm sure those owners far outnumber the profit-makers as it's getting harder every day to make money on the internet . . . especially when vBulletin themselves are so willing to demonstrate the risks of paying online for "intangible goods".

In a time of global economic crises the whole thing sounds like a deathwish. I'm obsessed with the idea of the greedy buggers dying aren't I? LOL, just think how many doors that could open

[Alias]

Originally Posted by Peterpigman

I hope the shitstorm happening on the forums at the mo makes them look at it again but I seriously doubt it

Well they appear to have looked at it again . . . the shitstorm on their forums that is, not the blackmail or the bullshit.

The barrage of protest has been silenced by vB.org in their usual manner by locking threads, deleting new ones on similar topics etc . . . whilst at vB.com - the people who actually sell the licences, people have been banned for airing their objections.

Maybe they should consider a name-change over there . . . perhaps SS Bulletin would be more appropriate!